John L Gardener. What a gentleman. I remember winning my second ABA bout. He presented me and my opponent Brian Wisbey with our trophies and gave us both a signed £1 note. I still have it to this day from 1982.

That is when boxing meant something . After a fight like that to remember the children he visited in hospital is simply astonishing. What a real gentleman.

John L. Gardner; '' Self praise is no recommendation.'' Well said, John. I wish the modern day boxer could learn the same lesson.

Sykes was a bully and ultimately a shithouse when it came to it. All very well beating up smaller men outside a pub. However, when he faced a proper fighting man he came up short and turned his back.

Say what you like about Sykes, he always be Yorkshires favorite sociopath.

Sykes was an ex-jailbird and a career professional thug. I'm not sure his contribution to society amounted to anything more than that.

Gardiner fought a great fight watch all the switching from the head to the body early and took the wind from Sykes.top performance and a good fight to watch ,wish the heavies could give this much now!!!!!

Just read "the forgotten champ" John L Gardner Great bio and boxing book never a dull moment from page one

Gardner was a good european level fighter, narrowly missed out on fighting Ali, Sykes was a hardman and notorious outside the ring and in prison but classic difference of hardman vs professional athlete - in the end he took a beating and turned away, Gardner looked fresh and like he had just been sparring! Syke's notoriety overhyped his boxing ability - great in a brawl but proper ringcraft is a different ball game.

Better fight than the Chris Eubank jr and Bill Saunders I just watched.

Very good

Good fighter was Gardner. He was always going to be all wrong for Paul, he'd just keep coming and could take a great shot so no way was Paul going to last 15 rounds. Gave it a good go though, no disgrace in that.

Thank you Zendo59 for posting all these rare brittish brawls.

@irishgeal1 Give him a bit of credit, he'd had 8 fights man! Both men fought hard, one was too inexperienced. Sykes was hardly a clown mate.

Gardiner wasnt no “Puff” like sykes used to label people

Sadly, he seems rather forgotten amongst the plethora of other contendors to the UK title but in retrospect he was actually very good. He'd have beaten Chisora, given Haye a fight and probably done better against the Klitckoes than either of them. Sadly, thrashing that revolting, murderous, rapine, killer Paul Sykes ( may he rot in the nappies he so revoltingly abused) will be his high point. He was never quite given the credit he desaerved.

That South African title is given too much importance there in SA!!

After this Sykes went to fight the Nigerian champion in Lagos and got knocked out in the first round. Unfortunately no video but there is a recording of an interview with the Nigerian. None of the Sykes fanboys ever mention these 2 fights ?

isent Paul sykes the guy who claimed he once punched a shark in the ear do stop it from attacking him hahaa?

gardener did outclass sykes here . but he was the champion with proffesional trainer and 30 bouts under his belt..... sykes could have hed him if he had the proffesional trainer and backing . only 8 fights credit to sykes .well done paul. good fight. hope you found your peace in heaven which you dint have on earth

What would sykes be like , back then against the yanks ?

Amazing hiw the commentator knew what he said ?????seems like a fixed fight to me,both brilliant boxers but Paul was a street fighter as well as his boxing career but John was one hard guy Rip to them both and total respect.

Gardner would have made a great Cruiser.. 👍

some chin on gardner.. wow

Sykes would still of weighed the likes of duffy land lenny in

Tidy fighter John l gardner I remember him well good boy

I think Sykes life wud of took a different direction if he'd won this fight....for the better I mean by that🤔

Gardeners not giving him any chance to breath..sykes should of backed up not gon toe to toe...but the bullie got bullied..is was gutted when found out he was a bullie...

I think Sykes would have beaten both Lenny and Roy .

I think you're giving Gardener a lot more credit than he deserves.

This showed sykes up for the coward that he was. Turning away when a real pro would have went out on his shield. He was nothing more than a bully

Paul Sykes was just a thug and a bully outside the ring he'd have beaten John l Gardner to a pulp .but this is a boxing match and Gardner's skills were far superior to Sykes .pity Lenny McClean didn't get hold of Sykes in the underground boxing McClean would have beaten him to mush that fight was talked about but never came about .rot in hell Paul Sykes

not good enough bully boy